Took me a long time to watch this one and after watching it, I see why it's considered a classic. I'm not one for Rom-Coms, with the exception of Moonstruck, I found most of the ones from the 80's and 90's annoying. This one though, it's truly a modern day Cinderella story. A rich executive falls in love with a prostitute, a serious storyline, but it's done in such a light hearted way. I love how the people around Vivian (Julia Roberts), although they look down on her at first, they see her for who she is and like her as a person. That's a pretty big deal for the time, I mean look at one of the recent reviews where someone's issue is that she's a prostitute, it's effect is still powerful these many years later. It's taking the stigma off sex work and showing a prostitute as a person, not her profession. Albeit, the reality of sex work can be grizzly; throughout the film I kept wondering why her pimp didn't call the hotel to check up on her and insure his amount of the money she was making - I guess these details were overlooked cos it's a Rom-Com after all. However the cruel realities of sex work are still presented with scenes of drug addictions, hearing about other prostitutes OD'ing, and Vivian nearly getting raped because her occupation is discovered by Edward's lawyer (Jason Alexander).
As mentioned before, I love the exploration of Vivian's character. We learn her backstory and why she ended up in the profession she's in. How despite the tough, free-spirited front she puts, people's words do hurt her. I adored the scene she and Edward have in bed where she tells him that when you've heard bad things about yourself long enough, you start to believe it. I love that line, I love how Julia Roberts delivers it, just great screenwriting - almost reminiscent of the writing in classic Hollywood films. I love how they show the discrimination on Rodeo drive, that's not an exaggeration, I can attest from personal experience, that really is what it's like to walk into a store on Rodeo drive and you're not dressed like "a million bucks." They'll kiss up to you if they discover you've got money to burn, but if you have as much as you look, they discriminate. Will that ever change ? Probably not. Doesn't matter cos the things they sell are tacky and uninspiring. Glad this movie immortalized this for generations to come.
I loved the relationship between Vivian and Hector Elizondo's character. Like everyone else, he has a prejudice towards her at first because of her profession and how her presence at his hotel could drag it under, but once he gets to know her all those previous prejudices go out the window. He helps her get new clothes, teaches her table etiquette, basically takes care of her. He looks out for her, which I really liked. I see that "The Princess Diaries" had him reprise this similar role in the 2000's and I can see why, he's great at playing the part of someone who will watch out for you. The best thing about this whole movie is that no one really changes her, the only thing that changes is her wardrobe and at the end, her profession (assuming) but she's still the same woman that everyone around her was charmed by. She's not her profession, she's Vivian - a girl with childlike wonder who has a big heart and a love for adventure.
As you can tell, I loved this film and if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you do. It's a classic for a good reason.
As mentioned before, I love the exploration of Vivian's character. We learn her backstory and why she ended up in the profession she's in. How despite the tough, free-spirited front she puts, people's words do hurt her. I adored the scene she and Edward have in bed where she tells him that when you've heard bad things about yourself long enough, you start to believe it. I love that line, I love how Julia Roberts delivers it, just great screenwriting - almost reminiscent of the writing in classic Hollywood films. I love how they show the discrimination on Rodeo drive, that's not an exaggeration, I can attest from personal experience, that really is what it's like to walk into a store on Rodeo drive and you're not dressed like "a million bucks." They'll kiss up to you if they discover you've got money to burn, but if you have as much as you look, they discriminate. Will that ever change ? Probably not. Doesn't matter cos the things they sell are tacky and uninspiring. Glad this movie immortalized this for generations to come.
I loved the relationship between Vivian and Hector Elizondo's character. Like everyone else, he has a prejudice towards her at first because of her profession and how her presence at his hotel could drag it under, but once he gets to know her all those previous prejudices go out the window. He helps her get new clothes, teaches her table etiquette, basically takes care of her. He looks out for her, which I really liked. I see that "The Princess Diaries" had him reprise this similar role in the 2000's and I can see why, he's great at playing the part of someone who will watch out for you. The best thing about this whole movie is that no one really changes her, the only thing that changes is her wardrobe and at the end, her profession (assuming) but she's still the same woman that everyone around her was charmed by. She's not her profession, she's Vivian - a girl with childlike wonder who has a big heart and a love for adventure.
As you can tell, I loved this film and if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend you do. It's a classic for a good reason.